Donald Trump has been selected to be the 45th President of the United States (POTUS). He is widely known as the billionaire businessman turned TV personality who apparently decided to "Make America Great Again". This blog takes a look into Trump's family history, examines his business associations, takes note of his closest friends, reveals who is in his political inner circle, and scrutinizes his cabinet appointees. Meet the 45th POTUS.

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

TRUMP'S PICK FOR CIA DIRECTOR MIKE POMPEO

Mike Pompeo, a three-term member of Congress and member of the House
Intelligence Committee, is one of several hardliners picked by Trump for
a top post. If confirmed by the Senate, he would would oversee a vast
surveillance apparatus which he has indicated he wishes to expand. Below you can read why Senator Rand Paul is concerned about Mike Pompeo's desire to expand the NSA's surveillance powers, for his support of torture, and of his support of the USA Patriot Act.

Rand Paul's Concern About Mike Pompeo

Sen. Rand Paul Concerned That Sessions, Pompeo Supported Patriot Act

(CNSNews.com)
– Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that he
has concerns about Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and Rep. Mike Pompeo
(R-Kan.), who were both nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to head the Justice Department and CIA, respectively, for their support of the USA Patriot Act.

“It
does concern me, yes, but I would say that, with Pompeo, he’s going to
have to also answer, to my liking, whether or not he’s still for
torture, whether or not he’s for water-boarding. That’s important,” Paul
said. “He’s also been for expanding NSA powers.”

“You have also
been a vocal critic of what the government does to look into its
citizens’ business, whether it’s bulk collection of data or wiretapping.
What, given that mind-set, is your view about the elevation of Jeff
Sessions to attorney general and Mike Pompeo into the CIA?” host John
Dickerson asked.

“You know, I am a fierce advocate of privacy and
think that you do have a right to privacy and that your records,
whether they’re in the possession of the phone company or not, that you
still retain a right of privacy in those records. We all sign privacy
agreements every time we do a computer search with a computer search
company or with a telephone company. So, I think we do have a right the
privacy,” Paul said.

“I’m hopeful, but I also know that this
president doesn’t necessarily agree with me on -- the next president -
and so we will see. I will continue to be an equal opportunity defender
of the Bill of Rights, whether it’s a Republican or Democrat president,”
Paul added.

“But you don’t -- do you have any specific concerns
with respect to Sessions or Pompeo?” Dickerson asked. “They both
supported the Patriot Act, bulk collection of metadata.”

“Right.
It does concern me, yes, but I would say that, with Pompeo, he’s going
to have to also answer, to my liking, whether or not he’s still for
torture, whether or not he’s for water-boarding. That’s important,” Paul
said. “He’s also been for expanding NSA powers.

“Many of the NSA
powers were done, I think, in secret without the knowledge of most
members of Congress. Even some members who were authors or co-authors of
the Patriot Act said, we never intended for them to collect all that
data in Utah, and they didn’t tell us,” Paul added.

“So, one of
my questions for Pompeo will be, are there secret programs that even
Congress doesn’t know about? And I think there still are programs
ongoing that the bulk of Congress is not aware of,” Paul said.